Michael White

Michael has received certifications from multiple schools through Edx on The Science of Happiness and Inclusive Leadership, as well as a coaching certification from The NeuroMindfulness Institute. Michael felt called to self-educate by reading books, listening to podcasts, watching Ted Talks, having conversations, and making mistakes and learning from them, rather than go the traditional college route. He spent 15 years working in restaurants, ending up as a Front of House training manager with Taco Mama opening multiple restaurants, training teams of 20-30 people. Jumping at a chance to follow his passion into the outdoors, he moved to Charlotte, NC in August of 2020 to become a white water raft guide at the White Water Center. From there he got connected to wilderness therapy and worked with kids, aged 10-17 as a field staff for over a year, drawing on a passion for personal growth and a love of the outdoors to help support them in their journey. In 2022, while working wilderness therapy, Michael connected with a neuroscientist and excitedly jumped at the opportunity to pivot and join a startup. In his role at the offices he assisted in guiding clients through custom neuro programs and helping develop the business model.

Currently, he is the Lead Tech running the neuro program at a therapeutic boarding school for 6th-9th grade girls, a Lead Mentor with Journeymen Asheville for middle and high school boys, and works with Clarity Coaching Network running group coaching programs for young men. Michael’s main focus is Self-Optimization: The discovery of how to become your best self and fall in love with who you are, and the process of becoming that person, along the journey. With a wide range of educational tools to pull from, from books to podcasts to utilizing social media and music, he is very focused on identifying habits/systems and reworking them to support growth and understanding in whatever area of mental, physical, or emotional health and wellness someone is looking to improve. Michal finds meaning in this particular field of coaching and mentoring because during his personal evolution and challenges when he was younger, he felt that he didn't have the resources to thrive, and so he aims to be the opportunity he didn't seem to have.

In Michael’s “non-work” time, he is passionate about finding new and fun ways to move his body and get outside. He has played competitive ultimate frisbee for the past 14 years, currently part of two Asheville based teams, Antiques Roadshow and Too Much Fun, and supports the growth of the youth program. His love for the sport is rooted in the welcoming, supportive and joyful community and the competitive spirit that the game brings. When he’s not playing ultimate he loves to read and learn, experience life with friends, write poetry, tend to his many plants, frequent the Sauna House, and has recently taken up baking pizza and doughnuts from his roommates sourdough starter, Frodo Jr. For the past year or so he has, almost weekly, attended the local ManKind Project groups, finding healthy brotherhood and an incredibly loving and supportive community. Michael has always had a passion for the natural world and exploration. During high school he was an education and summer camp volunteer at the local zoo in Birmingham, Alabama. From there, for three years, he volunteered at a wildlife rehab center for birds that sparked an internship as the Raptor Intern. When he turned 21 he jumped at the chance to work with one of his older sisters who was doing sea turtle research on a remote beach in Costa Rica. This led to spending a full year experiencing their amazing culture and growing in unforeseen ways. Upon returning he attempted to dive back into earning a college degree, but felt called to explore other avenues of self-education and exploration that resonated more with his truth. At 23, while working in restaurants, he began listening consistently to motivational podcasts which marked the seeds of his evolutionary eruption. Fast forward to 26 and after a very challenging exit from a relationship, he started to ask himself a crucial question, searching for clarity, “Who am I and who do I want to become?” At the end of 2019 while working as a Front of House training manager with Taco Mama, training teams of 20-30 people for new locations, he decided to pursue a new direction following his passion for the outdoors and growth. Since then he has invested most of his time and energy into endeavors that fuel his mind, body, and soul; with the intention of creating a cyclical and sustainable life in pursuit of co-creating a happier, healthier world by living fully and freely in his power and truth, and guiding others to do the same. He has recently run a few ultra marathons, competed in the Pan American Ultimate Championship 2023, listened excitedly to tens of thousands of hours of educational podcasts, consistently practices “controlled intentional suffering,” and strives to build supportive and connected communities.